The Meeps

On Sunday September 1, 2013 Alex and I had two additions to our home. As we were leaving church we found this little guy in the middle of the road.

Then we found his little brother just off the road. I originally picked up the kitten from the street and put him with his brother but looking around and seeing them shiver something was pulling at my heart to take these little ones home, or at least to a shelter.

We loaded up both of the kittens and started on our way. While in the car we called the local animal shelter. The guy on the phone quickly told me to put them back where we found them. The kittens where just 3 weeks old, covered in fleas and it was raining. I knew we couldn't put them back! We went on to Petsmart and thankfully they were having an Adopt-A-Thon so another local shelter was there. Alex and I were able to talk with them and get what the kittens would need for the next couple weeks until we could put them on wet and dry food. They provided us with litter, food and medicine for the kittens.

In only a matter of minutes we became a foster family! We took them over to Alex's parent's and gave them both a bath and some milk. They were still so little that we were able to swaddle them.

After awhile they settled into our home and hearts. Each week they continued to do better and better. We found out that they were anemic from the fleas and had a cold from being outside. They grew and grew and eventually I let them come out to meet our two cats Hobbes and Kingston.

We named them Storm and Cloud.

Storm was named because he had more black on him and because he purrs up a "storm." Cloud was named because he was just so fluffy.

Storm                                                          Cloud

As they grew they each developed their own special personalities and I grew to love them so much! They had the cutest little meow so I nick-named them the Meeps. To this day if you call them Meeps they still turn around and look at you.

From the beginning it was always our plan to give them up for adoption. Last week they went to be neutered and on Saturday we got the call to bring them to Petsmart for the Adopt-A-Thon. I was instantly in tears after I got off the phone. I am still upset about them leaving but I know it was for the best.

Sunday we stopped by to check on them and we found out that Cloud had been adopted Saturday afternoon.

Yesterday I called our shelter contact for an update. Storm is still waiting to be adopted but thankfully he made himself a new friend.

I will certainly miss them but I am so thankful I was able to take care of them and give them a chance at a happy life.

Butternut Squash, Apple & Carrot Soup

Today I'm going to share with you my favorite fall recipe. I make this soup once a year. One because it is a higher priced meal to make and two because once I've finally finished the one batch I am ready to save it again till the next year. A couple of years ago I came across this soup at the grocery store Earth Fare. They have samples of soup everyday and this particular day I got to try this soup. It was so good I had to try and recreate it! The soup was labeled with all the ingredients but not the measurements. So, I bought all the ingredients that day so the taste would be fresh in my mind and with a lot of tasting and hovering over the stove top I finally got to the store taste! I was so thankful! Thankfully it doesn't take as long to make and I now have my recipe! I wasn't sure if I was going to share because I love the idea of secret family recipes but then I thought what a disservice to others! I really hope you enjoy this special recipe!

There it is, my favorite soup!

Well, I didn't take step by step pictures this time because I have changed this recipe into a Crock Pot recipe, so there aren't very many steps now! The great thing about the Crock Pot is not only the ability to leave it but also the great smells it adds to your home! After only an hour your home will start to smell like Fall!

Butternut Squash, Apple & Carrot Soup

Here's what you need:

7-8 cups Butternut Squash cubed (You can use fresh or frozen or refrigerator bags)

4 medium Apples peeled and cubed (I usually use Gala or Fuji)

1 1/2 cup Carrots

1 medium Yellow Onion quartered

6 cups Chicken broth

1 stick Salted Butter

1/4 cup Honey

1- 1 1/12 cup cooking Cream Sherry

1 cup Half n Half

1/4 cup Sour Cream

1 tbsp Rosemary

1 tsp each Salt & Pepper

1/2 tbsp each Cloves, Nutmeg, All Spice

Alrighty! Step by Step:

Step 1: Veggies go in first.

Step 2: Add Sherry and Chicken broth, Spices, Honey and Butter (cut into tablespoons), mix well.

Step 3: Cook on low for 6 hrs or high for 4. This meal is great because it won't hurt it to cook for a long time but after two hours everything should be soft enough to mix!

Step 4: After it has cooked for the duration you need it to, puree. For this step, I have used it all! I have poured into a blender, used a mixer but now I have the best kitchen tool ever; the Cuisinart Smart Stick, which is an immersion hand blender! It works wonders!

Step 5: Add the Sour Cream and Half & Half, mix well.

Step 6: Taste test! This will be your time to see if you want to add anything else! Sometimes it needs more salt, sometimes more Sherry. :)

Step 7: Enjoy! 

I hope you all enjoy! I'm planning to make this again for Thanksgiving dinner as an appetizer! 

Fall Pumpkin Flower Arrangement

Last weekend my husband and I had a yard sale with his parents! In preparing for the sale we decided to go through just about everything we could to see what we could get rid of so we could de-clutter our home. Thankfully for me, and just in time too, I came across my fall decorations from previous years that I had completely forgotten about. One item in particular I was happy to find again and use!

I got this ceramic pumpkin as a gift two years ago and it had real flowers in it. I have been saving it since!

Keeping with the flower theme I went to the store to get this green flower arranger along with various flowers.

Then I just started playing around with some different options using the bigger flowers first.

Once I felt like it was finished I found it a new home on  our dining room table.

Then I thought about the leftovers from my last flower project and added a few leaves.

And here is the finished product!

The lace plate is a find from IKEA! Love that store! And the place setting underneath I found at a thrift store for .25c!

Favorite Crock Pot Recipe: 3 Bean White Chicken Chili

This is my favorite Chili Recipe. It was adapted from a Pinterest find and is now a staple meal at our home and events! For this post there is only one picture. Why you may ask? It is so simple!

3 Bean White Chicken Chili

Here's what you need:

4 Frozen Chicken Breasts
1 can each of Corn, Black Beans, Chili Beans, Kidney Beans
1 8oz pkg Cream Cheese
1 Ranch packet
1/2 tbsp each of Cumin, Onion Power, & Chili Powder

Step 1: Turn on Crock Pot
Step 2: Put all ingredients into Crock Pot- cream cheese on top. Cook for 6-8 hours on low.
Step 3: Before serving shred chicken
Step 4: Enjoy! Serve with rice, corn chips, sour cream, cheese... whatever your heart desires!